Hydraulic feed system



Exzt. 24, 19.50 A. A. x-:RlcsoN 2,526,646

HYDRAULIC FEED SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1944 477m, am' @W7 ATTORNEYS thereby constantlyl varying.

Patented Oct. 24, 1.7950

HYDRAULIC FEED SYSTEM Albert A. Ericson, Massapequa Park, N. Y., 'assignor to The Farmingdale Corporation, a c'orporation lof New York Appl-cationDece'mber 9, 1944, Serial No. 567,437

, 1 :This invention relates to systems for supplying hydraulic pressure for actuating a number of inf strumentalities, one 'or more of which may be ,actuated at any one time, thereby providing a Y'Ihe system may be used to supply any kind lof a variable load -in which it `is desired to maintain an 'adequate supplyof liquid at a substantially uniform pressure.

The system/ finds -especial utilityas a means for supplying liquids under pressure for actuating a vplurality of hydraulically driven machine tools.

Thesetools are Operated intermittently, and the load jon the "main supplying the Lpressure is In order that the tools may work efficiently, it is essential that the pressurean'd volume of the liquid supplied be kept up to the required degree at al1 times.

Y effects.

In accordance with't-he present invention a number of pumps are provided, each with its own driving means, and with pressure responsive means for vcontrolling the operation Aof each pump or driving means, so as 'to throw one or more of the pumps into 'or out ofoperationas may lbe necessary to supply the demand for liquid.

The present invention provides for the control of these pressure responsiveV devices by means of the pressure of a small amount of surplus liquid which is bypassed through a high pressure relief valve and through an adjustable restriction kor choke. As the demand for liquid increases the flow of surplus liquid by-passed falls, while if there is a decrease in `demand the flow of liquid in the by-pass increases. As soon as the surplus liquid flows in su-iiicient quantity to be effectively retarded by the restriction so as to appreciably raise the pressure,kone or more of the pressure responsive devices are actuated so as 'to throw out of action the corresponding nurnber of pumps, thereby promptly reducing the amount of liquid supplied. On the other hand, if theruse of the liquid increases, Lthe pressure of the surplus liquid falls and an addtionalppump or number of pumps come into operation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective hydraulic system ofthe character described which vwill take-care Vof wide variations in the use of liquid land maintain an adequate supply of the same at all times, under a substantially uniform pressure.vr At the same time the control of the system is such that there is only a nominal loss due to -1e`c`i1'"culation of unused liquid. Y

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a diagramma-tic view showing one preferred mbodiment of the system.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 5 is the manifold or supply line having connections -6 to a number of hydraulic devices constituting the variable load on the system, and which are indicated by the actuators 8 of a number of machine tools (not shown). The main f5 is `supplied with liquid under pressure from the pump manifold -I which has' branches l2 leading to a number of pumps 14three being shown for the purpose of illustration. These pumps all draw the liquid through the suction line I6 from'the liquid sump or reservoir i8. The liquid discharged from the actuators 8 is returned to the reservoir i8 through the discharge line i9. Each of the pumps is shown as driven 'by an electric motor 26, although it will be'understood that any source of power for driving the pumps may be utilized. As shown the circuits of the electric motors 20 are arranged to be opened and closed by pressure switches 22. The switches close the circuitsiso as to start the motors when the pressure falls below a predetermined gure, and open the circuits so as to stop the motors when thepressure rises to a set pressure. Such switches, being Well understood, need not be further described.

At the point where the .pump manifold I'vjoins the pressure line 5 is a branch tpipe 3i] leading to a high pressure Arelief valve 32 of usual construction. As shown diagrammatically the 'relief 'valve contains a ball valve member 35 held down by Vspring 36, the tension of ,which maybe adjusted bya :screw 3U. When the pressure in the pipes 5, I0 and `301s high enough to lift the -ball -34 from its seat, there will be some leakage past the ball into the pipe 46. A gauge 42 may beprovided -on the high -pressure'side of the relief valve Vto show the pressure in -th'e main, while the gauge 3 'sirable pressure for use in actuating many machine tools.

The pipe 40 has two branches 50 and 52. Branch 50 is a dead end branch which terminates at an accumulator 54 which will have more or less of the liquid in its lower end, as indicated at 56, above which is an air space 58. The accumulator is closed at the top so that the air in the air space is compressed more or less, depending upon the pressure in the pipe 50. Branch pipes 60 connects pipe L50 with the several pressure switches 22. These pressure switches are preferably arranged to operate at slightly different pressures so that they will act progressively. For

instance, the first switch may operate to open pump stopped, whereas when the pressure= reaches 13, lbs. per sq. in. the third switch will be opened and the third pump will stop. Obviously this arrangement can be continued to any number of pressure switches and pumps, which it will be necessary to employ. If the pressure drops to the point for which the switches are set to close, one after the other will close, thereby starting the pumps as required and supplying further liquid under pressure. The pressure at which an open switch will close is usually several pounds per square inch lower than the pressure at which a previously closed switch will open. Thus the switch which opens the circuit and stops its motor when a pressure of 13 lbs per sq. in. is reached may be set so as to close the circuit and start the motor when the pressure falls to 3 lbs. per sq. in. The switch which opens the circuit at 111/2 lbs. per sq. in. may be set to close the circuit and start the motor at 11/2 lbs. per sq. in. pressure. The switch which opens the circuit at the lowest pressure, say at lbs. per sq. in., may desirably be set so as to close the circuit and start the motor when the pressure is zero. This keeps some pressure in the system at all times so that the system is always ready to operate as soon as one of the actuators is put into use. Thus the system is always ready to function, and does not go entirely out of operation even though all the actuators may be shut down for the time being. The pressures given are obviously merely examples and may be varied to suit the circumstances of the particular installation.

Accumulator 54 takes care of sudden surges, prevents shock and injury to the parts due to sudden changes in pressure, and prevents the switches from operating too quickly. For instance, if the increase in pressure is instantaneous due to some momentary cause, and does not represent a maintained increase in the load, such momentary increase in pressure will merely compress the air in the accumulator slightly without operating a. pressure switch. However, if there is a substantial and sustained increase in pressure, then the switch would be operated to cut out one of the pumps. By properly choosing the proportions of the accumulator a very smooth and'satisfactory operation of the system may be secured.

The liquid which passes the relief valve 3 2 cannot escape through the pipe 50i which, as stated, is a dead end pipe ending in a closed accumulator. Any quantity of liquid which flows past the relief valve passes into the branch pipe 52 from which it flows through the adjustable valve, choke or restriction 10 and into the return pipe 12 leading to the reservoir. The adjustable restriction 10 may take any suitable form such, for instance, as the needle valve 14 which may be set in adjusted position by means of the pointer l operating over the scale 18. By moving the pointer to the desired division on the scale, the restriction is adjusted by the movement of the needle valve. When the restriction is made smaller, the freedom of flow is reduced and the pressure in pipes 40', 50 and 52 will be increased more quickly. Thus the pressure switches will act sooner upon a rise in the pressure. Ifthe restriction is opened, the pressure switches will not act quite so fast.

In order to take care of a larger flow past the relief valve 32, such as will take place if there is a sudden reduction of the load, a by-pass is provided to permit flow around the restriction l0. This by-pass comprises a pipe leading to an accumulator 92 which is usually of such size ras to contain a substantial bodyof liquid indicated at `$4, and having a relatively small air space 95 above the level of the liquid. For convenience of adjustment a gauge 98 may be provided to show the pressure in the air space. Leading from the accumulator below the usual level of the liquid therein is a pipe |00 leading to a low pressure relief valve |02. Fluid passing the relief valve |02 passes through a pipe |04 to the return pipe 12. The relief valve |02 is preferably set for relatively low pressure, for instance 15 to 20 pounds per square inch. This determines the limit of pressure which may exist in pipes`5|il and 52. If the pressure exceeds this amount, the relief valve |0-2 opens freely so as to permitfree flow around the restriction 10 and back to the liquid reservoir. By making the air space 96 quite small the pressure control can be made sensitive, such control being obtained by adjusting the restrictions 'i4 and the pressure at which the relief valve |02 is actuated. A small air space such as 96 is desirable to prevent the effect of sudden minor surges in pressure, but owing to its small size slight sustained increases in pressure in the pipes 50 and 52 will cause the relief valve |02 to open so as to permit the flow of liquid.

Under stable conditions of operation, the restrictionl 'E4 should be adjusted so that practically all of the liquid passed by the main relief valve 32 will flow through this restriction and there will be little, if any, flow through the relief valve |02. When there is a sudden reduction of the load, however, then the surplus liquid delivered by the pumps to the manifold I0 will pass the valve 32 and valve |02. The passage of the liquid past the valve |02, however, indicates a pressure suflicient to actuate one or more of the Ias any air compressed in the accumulator 54 vhas forced sufficient liquid through the pipe 50 and into pipe 52 to permit the pressure to drop. This drop will result in the actuation of one or more of the pressure switches thereby starting a motor or motors, and the pumps actuated by such motors, and thus increase the 110W of liquid. 1f the Yrelief valves and restriction are properly adjusted a suilicient number of pumps will be maintained in operation so that there is about enough flow to pass through the relief valve 32 into pipe V52 and to pass through the restri-ction Without substantial flow taking place through the relief valve H12. As the restriction is small the amount of flow back to the liquid reservoir under normal 1. In a hydraulic system for maintaining a.

supply of liquid in variable volume at a substantially uniform pressure for actuating a variable number of hydraulic devices, a supply line, a plurality of pumps connected thereto, a relief valve between the pumps and the supply line, a plurality of pressure responsive devices selectively controlling the actuation of the pumps, a dead end branch line connected With the discharge side of said relief valve and said pressure responsive devices, an accumulator in said branch line, a return line connected With the discharge side of said relief valve, and a variable restriction in said return line.

2. In a hydraulic system for maintaining a supply of liquid in variable volume at a substantially uniform pressure for actuating a variable number of hydraulic devices, a supply line, ak

plurality of pumps connected thereto, 'a relief Valve between the pumps and the supply line, a plurality of pressure responsive devices selectively controlling the actuation of the pumps, a dead end branch line connected Withthe discharge side of said relief valve and said pressure responsive devices, an accumulator insaid branch line, a return line connected with the discharge side of said relief valve, a variable restriction in said return line, and a by-pass around said variable restriction for by-passing liquid from said variable supply of liquid under substantially uni- Y return line to the liquid reservoir, said by-pass l containing an accumulator, said by-pass also containing a 10W pressure relief valve.

3. In ahydraulic system for maintaining a variable supply of liquid under substantially uni=` form pressure for actuating a variable hydraulic load, a supply line, a plurality of pumps' connected thereto, a high pressure relief valve between the pumps and supply line, pressure re sponsive means selectively controlling the actuation of the pumps, a connection between said pressure responsive means and the discharge side ofssaid high pressure relief valve, a return line connected with the discharge side of said high pressure relief valve, a variable restriction in said return line,. a by-pass around said variable restriction for by-passing the liquid discharged from said high pressure relief valvearound said variable restriction, and a low pressure relief form pressure for actuatinga variable hydraulic load, a supply line, a plurality of pumps connected thereto, a high pressure relief valve between the pumps and supply line, pressure responsive means yvariable restriction for by-passing the liquid discharged from said high-pressure` relief valve around said variable restriction, a low pressure relief valve in said by-pass, and an accumulator in said by-pass, said by-pass accumulator having a smaller air space than said accumulator associated with the pressure responsive means.

ALBERT A. ERICSON.

' Y,REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namek A Date v 1,717,814 AStrong et al June 18, 1929 2,223,415 Groves Dec. 3, 1940 2,237,574 Persons Apr. v8, 1941 2,246,940 I-Iood June 24, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,879 Great Britain 1912 

